News & Events
The Alliance Chamber of Commerce, located in Alliance, Ohio, has been a staple in the community for over 85 years, providing leadership to its members, protecting their interests while promoting its businesses. With a membership totaling almost 400, the Chambers tradition of community leadership continues strong into the 21st century.
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The Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD) have charged the SBDC with the goal of helping entrepreneurs start, sustain and grow their business, while promoting the development of an innovative, entrepreneurial culture. We are devoted to assisting aspiring entrepreneurs develop winning companies that create jobs, strengthen the economy, produce a profit and reinvest in the community.
Start-up business candidates seeking assistance from the SBDC are required to attend our Small Business Orientation (SBO). This is a no-cost, two-hour seminar outlining basic knowledge that every entrepreneur should know. This includes resources available to the encountered in business start-up, the business planning process and some of the financing options. Once the SBO is completed, a counseling session can be scheduled with a counselor. Sessions are on an individual basis and are held confidential. All Ohio counselors sign annual confidentiality agreements with the State SBDC office.
In summary, the SBDC is staffed with well-educated, experienced and certified business advisors who are here to assist you. The center provides general management advice and counseling to start-ups and existing businesses throughout Stark and Wayne counties and our services are provided without charge, on a confidential basis. Business owners and potential entrepreneurs are encouraged to take advantage of the services and, when appropriate, recommend the center to business associates and friends.
Please visit www.cantonsbdc.org - email info@cantonsbdc.org or telephone 330-244-3290 for more information.
Eastern Stark Co. Safety Council News
Earn a BWC Premium Rebate through Safety Education
With all the changes being made in the Worker's Compensation system in Ohio right now, I'm sure you are looking at ways you can reduce you Worker's compensation premium. Employers will once again be eligible for premium rebates for active participation in the Ohio Safety Council program according to the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC). Businesses can obtain up to a four percent rebate by meeting all eligibility requirements and certain performance benchmarks. Last year the Eastern Stark County Safety Council passed out over $93,000 in rebate checks to our members.
The Eastern Stark County Safety Council is sponsored by the Alliance Area Chamber of Commerce and currently has over 60 members. The Council is open to all companies and individual employers interested in promoting and learning about workplace safety. There is no membership fee and membership in the Alliance Area Chamber of Commerce is not required. The Safety Council meets on a monthly basis providing quality programs addressing occupational safety and health, worker's compensation and risk management education and information. You will be kept up to date on new techniques, products and services to help with your safety and health program.
To qualify for the BWC Safety Council rebate you must meet the following eligibility requirements:
*Enroll in local safety council by July 31, 2010
*Attend 10 meetings or events between July 1, 2010, and June 30, 2011
o At least eight of the 10 meetings must be safety council meetings. Up to two of the 10 can be external educational options outlined below, but all 10 can be safety council meetings.
o A person can represent only one policy number with their attendance at a meeting.
o Employer has the option to gain credit for up to two meetings through attendance at BWC's Division of Safety & Hygiene (DSH) safety training courses or industry-specific training.
o DSH safety training credit is available for training conducted at the Ohio Center for Occupational Safety and Health (OCOSH) in Pickerington or one of its branches.
o No matter the duration of the training or special event, attendance applies toward only one meeting credit
o Safety training conducted at the employers' workplace, online or required Drug-Free Workplace training does not qualify for the safety council rebate program eligibility.
o It is the employer's responsibility to submit documentation to his or her safety council by June 30, 2010, for attendance at non-safety council training or events to qualify.
o Documentation must be an official certificate of attendance or transcript.
*CEO must attend any one safety council sponsored function or meeting
o CEO attendance counts as credit toward one of the 10 required meetings.
o If a CEO is representing multiple policy numbers, his/her attendance fulfills the CEO attendance requirement for all policies, but counts as meeting credit for only one policy number.
*Submit semi-annual reports for the 2010 calendar year
o Employers meeting these participation eligibility requirements will receive a rebate of 2 percent of their annual premium.
o The rebate offer excludes self-insuring employers, state agencies and employers participating in BWC's group-rating or group-retrospective programs. However, BWC encourages everyone to become active safety members.
o Employers must have active coverage status and no outstanding BWC balance to qualify.
Receive an additional 2-percent performance bonus rebate by
o Reducing either the severity or frequency of injuries in you workplace by 10%, or keep both at zero.
For information about joining the Eastern Stark County Safety Council please call the Alliance Area Chamber of Commerce at 330-823-6260.
Upcoming Events
Nominations for Business Alliance Awards
You will soon be receiving your nominations forms for the eighth annual Business Alliance Awards Program. This year's luncheon will be held on Monday, October 18, 2010 from 11:30a.m. - 1p.m. at Hoover Price Campus Center.
The Business Alliance Awards program was established by the Alliance Area Chamber of Commerce Board in 1997. The Praject Development Committee recommended that the Chamber expand the recognition of its members beyond the Golden Spade Awards. As a result, three distinct awards were established.
The Small Business of the Year, for a Chamber member company with fewer than 20 employees;
The Large Business of the Year, for a Chamber member company with more than 20 employees
The Spirit of Enterprise, for an individual who advances business in Alliance.
The award for Small Business of the Year and Large Business of the Year recognizes improvement or expansion to the facility, maintenance of employee stability and/or growth, and demonstration of an overall emphasis on community involvement.
The Spirit of Enterprise Award is presented to a business person who has demonstrated leadership in his or her industry or profession, developed and maintained strong employee relations, contributed and sustained service to the community and participated in Chamber activities and programs.
The winners for each of these awards are chosen based on your nominations.
The Golden Spade Awards are also presented at the luncheon. These awards are presented to businesses that have improved or expand their facilities in some way. Sheilah Smith of Huntington Bank is this year's Luncheon chairman. If you know of a company that is new or has expanded in the last year please let the Chamber office know.
If you would like more information about the Business Alliance Awards, contact the Chamber office.
FIRST ANNUAL ALLIANCE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE - NURSE APPRECIATION AWARDS
The Alliance Area Chamber of Commerce Medical Division, is excited to announce the upcoming Annual Nurse Appreciation Awards to be presented during the Fall Business Meeting. Keep your eyes open for the qualifications and applications, available late Spring. Nurses that work or live in the Alliance Area will be eligible for these awards.
